by C R Riley
She isn't able to finish, because Jaxon has his lips on hers again. This time he is kissing her much like he did last night, except for his hands aren't roaming. When he breaks the kiss, he rests his head against hers. "I love you, Hannah. White picket fences, uh? Permanent role?" Then he grunts in a way that has her shivering. "Bonding in a way no other man before me has even dared go. Are you certain that is what you want?"
Johannah reaches up and tucks a strand of his hair behind his ear as she strokes his rough face. "I guess the question is, are you certain it's what you want? I'm hungry, and since we are closer to your place than mine, do you think we can order room service?" She stands abruptly and reaches for his hand.
Jaxon nods, realizing she is changing the subject for now. "I know I can. About last night."
Johannah shakes her head and starts walking in the direction of the hotel. "Ground rules. No more questionable shenanigans. Kissing is acceptable, but anything other than that is not." She glances up at him and raises her eyebrows. "Kissing on the lips only. No more roaming freely with those hot lips of yours. They make me forget."
Jaxon chuckles as he wraps his arm around her shoulder, so he can kiss her head. "These hot lips of mine, promise to keep things PG from now on. No more PG-13, until." He waits for her to peek up, and then he wiggles his eyebrows at her.
"Until," Johannah repeats and nods in agreement as they start to cross the street.
Once they are in the middle of the road something warns her to scan to her left. She isn't sure if it is the sound of the engine. Or if it is just her training to pay attention to her surroundings that cause it. But whatever it is, she looks and spots a black sports car speeding right for them.
Without deliberating about it, she shoves Jaxon toward the sidewalk out of the way. After doing that, she realizes her chance of getting out of the way is now impossible.
It's a good thing she has some knowledge of how to survive an incident like this. But man, this is truly going to hurt like a mother.
Chapter Thirty
Jaxon's world suddenly goes completely silent. He was talking to Johannah one second, then the next she was shoving him toward the sidewalk.
He stumbles forward. When he spins, all he can do is watch, as the love of his life leap in the air before landing on the windshield of a black car. After which she tucks and rolls, hitting the pavement like a human ball. One that bounces then keeps rolling until it finally comes to a stop.
He is up, and on his feet fast. Rushing for her now motionless body, twenty feet from him. His lungs burn and his vision is tunneled.
Jaxon can't bring himself to touch her. Afraid of not only hurting her but also terrified of what he may discover when he does. When he hears her moan then watches her relax out of the safe ball she turned into, he takes in a lung full of air. Filling his lungs relieving some of the burn.
"Hannah. Honey, don't move. Oh geez, Hannah. What the hell?" Jaxon squats over her frantically, checking for blood.
Slowly, Johannah recovers and waits for the pain to alert her where she is injured. So far, the only places she seriously aches are the backs of her hands, arms, and legs. Nothing alarms her of anything serious. Inch by inch she stretches out of her human ball and sprawls out on the pavement.
Yep, that definitely hurt like she imagined, although it could have been so much worse.
She is staring up at the sky when Jaxon's beautiful frightened face blocks her view. Reaching up carefully, she traces his face to brush away the tears streaming down it.
"Hannah." His voice is strained.
"I'm okay. Well, not okay, but I don't think anything is broken." She starts to sit up, by pushing her body off the ground with her hands and squeals out in pain. "Dang that hurts. Okay so maybe my wrist isn't fine, but I think everything else is good."
Jaxon straddles her, pinning her body, so she can't move. "Stop! The ambulance will be here soon. You just got stuck by a car that was going way faster than it should have been. You are not moving until they get here, do you hear me."
Johannah clears her throat at the dominant spectacle of a man now seated on her pelvic bone. Apparently, all the adrenaline running through his body has awakened parts of him. The thin layer of pants she has on, along with those very loose-fitting shorts of his, there is no hiding it.
She glances down and gasps at the sight of his tent for all to see. Doing a quick scan of the area, she is pleased to realize that no one is looking at him. Instead, they are focused on her and the situation.
"I won't move. However, you might want to, and you should probably get a handle on…" She glances down and snickers.
"What? Why are you laughing? This isn't funny, Hannah." Jaxon releases her then follows her gaze. "Oh… come on… seriously." He leans forward so it's not so noticeable and smiles only because she is smiling. "What have you done to me? That has never been an issue before, ever."
"Adrenaline. Not me. Now move, but kiss me first." Johannah orders him.
Jaxon closes his eyes in hopes to get a grip on his body, before he leans down and lightly brushes his lips against hers. Even that proves to be almost too much for him at the moment. Shifting his body off hers, he kneels next to her, embracing her good hand while they wait.
When the paramedics arrive, they don't take any chances. They put her in a neck brace and strap her to a backboard, despite her continuous declarations that she is fine. Once Johannah is loaded in the back of their rig, they agree to allow Jaxon to ride with them. Mainly because Johannah threatened to not go at all when they first deny him.
At GW the ER doctor tries to send him away since he isn't family. But finally permits him to stay when once again Johannah threatens to inform her boss, President Nelson Andrews, how she was treated. Her threat makes a few of the nurses, along with the doctor in charge, chuckle.
Then she surprises them all when she discloses why she can't let Jaxon out of her sight. "I mean come on; really, how do you expect me to focus in here when I will be worried that he is getting hit on out there. The man is gorgeous and in a league all his own. Plus, he's a little shy."
"Hannah," Jaxon warns, attempting to sound threatening. Although right now he is more concerned than anything else.
"So, you'd rather be out there. Where anyone can approach you, put their hands on you, check out that nearly perfect body, then be in here." Johannah's eyes find his. "Cause I can change my mind if that is the case."
Jaxon closes his eyes and moans. "Woman. Shut up. Let them do their jobs. I am right where I should be, with you. At least we know you didn't damage your head."
That has the whole room laughing, even Johannah.
Two hours later, after a thorough evaluation, a CAT scan, blood work, and multiple concussion tests. Johannah is at long last disengaged from the backboard and neck brace. While most of her body checked out to be only battered and bruised, her right wrist took the brunt of it. So, for now, she sports a nice wrist brace until the swelling recedes. At that point, they will reevaluate and decide if she requires a cast.
They aren't ready to release her just yet, but at least she can move freely again. Her body hurts as if it has been hit head-on by a car traveling at least forty-five miles an hour. She aches in places she didn't know she could ache.
Jaxon called her parents, who were out of town this weekend, to inform them of what happened. Only after Johannah assured them she was fine and then lets her mother speak with the physician. Got Jaxon to promise he would look after her, did the older woman agree not to come home immediately. It's not that she didn't love her mother, she loved her very much. But right now, her mother is not the person she wants or needs to take care of her.
A commotion outside her room has her mumbling under her breath, and Jaxon at first isn't certain why. That is until the door opens, and President Andrews steps inside right after his wife. Jaxon stands out of respect but is ordered to sit back down just as quickly.
Mrs. Andrews slides around her husband, so she ca
n be by Johannah's side. "When we heard that you were here, not even the Secret Service could keep us away." She chuckles at her own joke as she pats Johannah's face. "How are you?"
"Ready to go home." Johannah smiles up at her, even that is painful.
"Why don't you see if you can throw your weight around and get me released?" She turns only her eyes on the President, hoping to avoid feeling worse.
"I hear you have already been doing that." He is standing at the bottom of her bed and pinches her foot.
Geez, even that sends pain through her poor battered body.
"A lot of good it did me," Johannah grumbles. "You'd think knowing such an important man like yourself, would at least allow me to get some really good drugs."
Jaxon perks up. "Are you in pain? Why didn't you say something? Geez, Hannah, I swear." He hits the button to call the nurse.
"I see you are in capable hands." President Andrews nods at the poor soul, whose heart is tightly wrapped around his agent's. "So, Agent Kohl, tell me exactly what happened."
There is a knock and four more people, who look rather important, enter the room. All of them make a point to address not only the President but also Johannah. They all also seem very interested in the man hovering next to her.
Jaxon gets the impression this meeting is top secret, so he stands. "I should step out for a few minutes. Go locate a nurse and instruct her to get you those meds you have been refusing." He leans in and kisses her on the cheek. "I'll be back."
"Wait." Johannah snags his shirt and winces. "Director Greene. Assistant Director McDaniel. SAC Edwards and ASAC Tolbert with the FBI. I'd like to introduce you to Jaxon Cristiano, the man in my life. If you all are okay with it, I'd like him to stay. He will be in charge of my care, so it might be beneficial if he hears what you have to say. Especially if it has to do with what happened this morning. Unless it's a matter of national security, it would make me feel better. Keep me from having to fill him in later once you all leave."
They all look to President Andrews for guidance, and once he nods, Director Greene speaks. "I don't see that being a problem, Agent Kohl. Tell us what happened."
A nurse enters with a needle and a smile. "I assume you finally have agreed to something to ease the pain."
Johannah shakes her head. "Not quite yet."
Jaxon starts to protest. "Hannah if you're in pain…"
"Once they leave sign me up, but until then I need my brain clear. That will only cloud it and make their jobs harder. I promise as soon as they leave." Johannah pats Jaxon's hand.
The nurse nods and turns around. As she heads back out into the hall, she throws back the promise to return later with the good stuff.
"We were crossing the street when I got that prickly sensation at the back of my neck." As soon as the words leave her mouth, she watches all four agents rub their necks. All of them understanding exactly what she is disclosing. "So, I turned in time to spot a black sports car with tinted windows, heading straight for us. Since we were in the middle of the road, there is no doubt that this wasn't someone who didn't see us; this was intentional."
"My word." Mrs. Andrews whispers in disbelief and gently squeezes Johannah's hand.
"So, I reacted like I would if I was protecting any assigned personnel. I shoved Jaxon out of the way and prepared for impact." Johannah can feel Jaxon's body tense.
"It was the most horrific event to witness. Hannah leaped straight up in the air as if she were Superwoman or something. Then she just tucked her body, as if she were a ball, rolled over the car, landing hard on the pavement. She bounced several times and came to a stop at least twenty feet from where she started. Scared the ever-living shit out of me." He glances around the room and apologizes. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt or be disrespectful. But I swear, I thought I had witnessed the love of my life being taken from me in the worst way."
"Mr. Cristiano." ASAC Sarah Tolbert, with the FBI, addresses him. "I can imagine it will stay with you for many years to come. Fortunately, you did not witness such a horrific act, but an attempt nonetheless. Did you happen to see the car or get a look at the driver?"
"Jaxon, please. And no, I'm afraid I didn't. My focus was on Hannah."
"Understandable." Assistant Director Noel McDaniel says. "Perhaps after you have had time to process it all, details will become clearer. Sometimes the mind just needs time."
"Plus, after everything you have been through the last few days, I'm sure witnessing another person you love suffer, has surely thrown you." This time it's SAC Rick Edwards who speaks up.
Jaxon squints as if trying to catch his meaning. "A person I love? You mean my father? I wouldn't compare what happened to Lucas Jackson, and my feelings about him, to this situation at all. While it was shocking to witness his shooting or more like hear it happen behind me. It was not even close to feeling my heart practically ripped out of my chest."
"Jaxon." Johannah's soft sweet voice has him breaking eye contact with the other man and glimpsing down at her. "I'm okay. While I'm going to be very sore for several days, I survived. I'm fine."
"You're not fine." Jaxon snarls and can feel his body shaking violently. "And I don't want anyone to misunderstand the difference. You are lucky you weren't injured worse than you were. This is the second time in three days someone has put your life in danger, and frankly, I'm at my wits end about it."
"He's right." President Andrews agrees. "Which is why I have asked these individuals to help us out, and take a serious look at all three cases. Somehow, I believe they are linked.
"Jaxon, while you have been cleared from having any knowledge of the first attempt, and I believe have nothing to do with this one. I do believe you somehow are the key. Not only were you present during two out of the three. Your relationship with Jo—I mean Hannah—is way too much of a coincidence. Especially with the warning, your father gave you—I mean Lucas.
"It’s worth looking into, and because of that Jo, you as of right now, are relieved of your duties." Nelson raises a hand to stop her from arguing. "First, because you need to heal. You are no good to me like this. Until your body heals and you are able to perform them properly, Agent Barker will be stepping in since she has proven to be more than capable these last couple of days. Agent Garris will oversee in-house responsibilities once she is cleared. If you are still unavailable, that is if I can convince Wesley to let her return to work."
Johannah's eyes widen, as she suddenly recalls a very important event. "The wedding?"
"Will take place, from what I have been able to gather, next weekend. While Kendra protested to the delay, she finally agreed. Paige has stepped in, and has been doing her part to assist Wes since he took her to his home yesterday." There is a sparkle in his gaze that tells Johannah how interesting he finds that whole situation.
"Now back to you. I'm also assigning a team to protect you."
"Oh no, you are not." Johannah this time protests, even when he tries to stop her. "I am not taking resources away from the USSS. Plus, it's not the responsibility of them to protect me. I don't fall under any of the titles under our protection. Furthermore, I am making this clear in front of witnesses, that I refuse such protection. And because of that, you can't force me to accept it."
Jaxon decides to speak up. "Mr. President, if it makes you feel any better, I have already contacted my head of security. He, along with the men and women under him, will be providing protection.
"Don't argue with me Hannah, it's not negotiable. And while you can refuse the protection they are offering. You cannot and will not refuse any I feel necessary. My men follow my orders because I pay them well and since I am the boss…"
"I hate you." Johannah tugs her hand free from his hold and tries to cross her arms.
"No, you don't." He leans in and kisses her pouty lips, and feels her trying to hold back a smile under them. "It's only temporary."
"Until I can take care of myself again." She affirms.
"Or until I decide you no longer
need protection." Jaxon grins as he seizes her hand again.
"I like him." Director Greene snickers. "I believe Agent Kohl has at last met her match. Now that we have made this very clear, perhaps we should allow her to rest. I promise to keep you posted on the status of our joint agent investigation, Jo. I'm happy to see you as feisty as always, and very thankful they were once again unsuccessful."
The rest of the group says their peace to Johannah and Jaxon, before leaving. The President and his wife take a little extra time and wait for the nurse to return before they make their exit.
Jaxon once again witnesses the love the Andrews have for his woman. Completely understands why the more he gets to know her.
The nurse not only comes in with her pain medication but release papers as well. Once they are signed, she administers the shot. Then helps get her situated in the wheelchair to make her escape.
Johannah is surprised to discover Martin waiting for them just outside the doors. She is a little groggy and it shows. "Hey, Marty. How'd you get here? Jax fly you in just so you could drive me around?"
"Miss Kohl." He addresses her as he opens the backdoor. "Feeling better?"
"Drugs are awesome." She blinks groggily and smirks. "Who are they?"
Jaxon introduces her to the team. "They are our security team. Raphael is the head guy in charge. Trace is his right-hand man. Alicia and Evie are joining them on this particular assignment. They are both very good at what they do, and run things for me at the office in Baltimore."
"You have women security officers? Are you showing off?" Johannah hears the two men chuckle.
"No. No! Alicia and Evie have worked for me for a very long time. I figured since you are the one that I am most concerned with at the moment, having a few female officers would be best." Jaxon helps her into the backseat of the SUV.
"Or were you afraid I'd find Raphael and Trace more attractive than you? They are kind of hot." Johannah peeks out the car door and waves all friendly like. "Hey, boys."
